Kansas State coach Jerome Tang is good at making the basketball program a hot conversation topic, positive or negative. His recent comments regarding a annual series with in-state rival Wichita State may have drawn the latter.

Tang compared the K-State/Wichita State rivalry to the Big 12/Big East Battle, of which he is not a fan. He would rather have complete control over his team’s non-conference schedule on a yearly basis than play a matchup concocted by conference officials.

I can’t go on my phone without people wishing the worst for me,” said a K-State player. “Not just for me, but for our team. And it devastates me.”